Editing Warhammer/Tactics/6th Edition/Tomb Kings (section)

=== Special Units ===

'''Tomb Guard''': OK, so it's normally considered bad form to compare similar units between similar army lists, focus on what you have and not what the neighbours are packing and so on. BUT: these are, at first glance, really shit Grave Guard. A lower maximum unit size (so it's less likely they'll autobreak enemies), no heavy armour or halberd options (so they won't thump and grind in protracted combat) and no Banner of the Barrows (because a flat "always hits on threes" is god's gift for fighting over obstacles and the like).

However, they have two significant edges over their cousins to the north. The first is that unlike Grave Guard, they can be raised with magic: d6 of the bleeders at a time. This makes them a good candidate for the ''Banner of the Undying Legion'', if no Skeletons are carrying it, and a reasonable target for spare Invocations if you need to keep their rank bonus up.

The second is the ''Icon of Rakaph''. This magic banner only benefits Skeleton Warriors (who need an Icon Bearer to join them with it, since it's too expensive for their points cap) or Tomb Guard, and it basically lets them pull a Fast Cavalry style free reform at the start of the turn, i.e. before charges are declared. Up top I talked about the "start turn a foot from target and facing wrong direction, still get to charge" potential of the army and doing that with a fully ranked block of S4, T4 combat infantry is a delight. Stick a footslogging Tomb King or a challenge-delivering speedbump Prince in there and you're laughing all the way back to your pyramid. Any of the magic standards that are good on Chariots are also good on these lads.

'''Ushabti''': They're very odd. Normally, these "monstrous infantry" on 40mm bases are a small unit bolted on to the back of the army and are used for flanking and deterring, but Ushabti are comparatively slow for a unit of this type (only M5 and no marching) and our Chariot units do the same job better. Instead, Ushabti are a meat grinder, best fielded in units of four or more. Their S6 is just shy of the magic number, but unlike most units of their type they don't need great weapons to achieve it, which means they can strike in good order and melt Core infantry, non-charging Knights, even other big fellas like Ogres and Trolls. Their chief weakness is their mere 5+ armour save, which is not enough: they melt to handguns, Warp Lightning, most Chaos troops, almost anything with a great weapon, the list goes on.

'''Carrion''': Underrated models, a little bit tougher than Fell Bats (4 over 3) and with a reasonable unit size. Small units run interference, harass archers, eat war machines, suicide strike wizards, all the usual flyer things and they don't care about being Undead 'cause flying ain't marching. Definitely worth a punt.

'''Tomb Scorpion''': This thing has it all: Poison, Killing Blow, Magic Resistance, the hitting and soaking power of a Tomb King and thus the T not to be frightened of Pistoliers, the M to pursue 3d6", and did we mention It Came From Below, so the foul thing will be scuttling around behind the enemy army with a bit of luck? And it's so cheap at 85 points that you might not miss it if it decides not to show at all. Star of the show. Fling these into combo charges with gay abandon and let them chase down what your infantry can't reach. Use them for the suicide missions you'd normally send your Carrion on. Send them after enemy wizards and see how long they last once they're done.